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Function of Escherichia coli biotin carboxylase requires catalytic activity of both subunits of the homodimer.

Biotin carboxylase catalyzes the ATP-dependent carboxylation of biotin and is one component of the multienzyme complex acetyl-CoA carboxylase that catalyzes the first committed step in fatty acid synthesis. The Escherichia coli biotin carboxylase is readily isolated from the other components of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase complex such that enzymatic activity is retained. The three-dimensional structure of biotin carboxylase, determined by x-ray crystallography, demonstrated that the enzyme is a homodimer consisting of two active sites in which each subunit contains a complete active site. To understand how each subunit contributes to the overall function of biotin carboxylase, we made hybrid molecules in which one subunit had a wild-type active site, and the other subunit contained an active site mutation known to significantly affect the activity of the enzyme. One of the two genes encoded a poly-histidine tag at its N terminus, whereas the other gene had an N-terminal FLAG epitope tag. The two genes were assembled into a mini-operon that was induced to give high level expression of both enzymes. "Hybrid" dimers composed of one subunit with a wild-type active site and a second subunit having a mutant active site were obtained by sequential chromatographic steps on columns of immobilized nickel chelate and anti-FLAG affinity matrices. In vitro kinetic studies of biotin carboxylase dimers in which both subunits were wild type revealed that the presence of the N-terminal tags did not alter the activity of the enzyme. However, kinetic assays of hybrid dimer biotin carboxylase molecules in which one subunit had an active site mutation (R292A, N290A, K238Q, or E288K) and the other subunit had a wild-type active site resulted in 39-, 28-, 94-, and 285-fold decreases in the activity of these enzymes, respectively. The dominant negative effects of these mutant subunits were also detected in vivo by monitoring the rate of fatty acid biosynthesis by [(14)C]acetate labeling of cellular lipids. Expression of the mutant biotin carboxylase genes from an inducible arabinose promoter resulted in a significantly reduced rate of fatty acid synthesis relative to the same strain that expressed the wild type gene. Thus, both the in vitro and in vivo data indicate that both subunits of biotin carboxylase are required for activity and that the two subunits must be in communication during enzyme function.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Reconstitution of the entry point of plant phenylpropanoid metabolism in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae): implications for control of metabolic flux into the phenylpropanoid pathway.

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and the C4H redox partner cytochrome p450 reductase (CPR) are important in allocating significant amounts of carbon from phenylalanine into phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in plants. It has been proposed that multienzyme complexes (MECs) containing PAL and C4H are functionally important at this entry point into phenylpropanoid metabolism. To evaluate the MEC model, two poplar PAL isoforms presumed to be involved in either flavonoid (PAL2) or in lignin biosynthesis (PAL4) were independently expressed together with C4H and CPR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, creating two yeast strains expressing either PAL2, C4H and CPR or PAL4, C4H and CPR. When [(3)H]Phe was fed, the majority of metabolized [(3)H]Phe was incorporated into p-[(3)H]coumarate, and Phe metabolism was highly reduced by inhibiting C4H activity. PAL alone expressers metabolized very little phenylalanine into cinnamic acid. To test for intermediate channeling between PAL and C4H, we fed [(3)H]Phe and [(14)C]cinnamate simultaneously to the triple expressers, but found no evidence for channeling of the endogenously synthesized [(3)H]cinnamate into p-coumarate. Therefore, efficient carbon flux from Phe to p-coumarate via reactions catalyzed by PAL and C4H does not appear to require channeling through a MEC in yeast, and instead biochemical coupling of PAL and C4H is sufficient to drive carbon flux into the phenylpropanoid pathway. This may be the primary mechanism by which carbon allocation into phenylpropanoid metabolism is controlled in plants.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Tissue-specific translation of murine branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase mRNA is dependent upon an upstream open reading frame in the 5'-untranslated region.

The committed step in the pathway for leucine, isoleucine, and valine catabolism is catalyzed by branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD). This multienzyme complex is itself regulated through reversible subunit phosphorylation by a specific kinase (BCKD-kinase). Although BCKD is present in the mitochondria of all mammalian cells, BCKD-kinase has a tissue-specific pattern of expression. Various experimental, nutritional, and hormonal conditions have been used to alter the expression of BCKD-kinase, yet little is known regarding the regulation of basal BCKD-kinase expression under normal conditions including the mechanism of its tissue specificity in any organism. Here we use tissue-derived cultured cells to explore the mechanisms used to control BCKD-kinase expression. Whereas the amount of BCKD-kinase protein is significantly higher in mitochondria from C2C12 myotubes than in BNL Cl.2 liver cells, gene transcription and stability of BCKD-kinase mRNA share similar properties in these two cell types. Our results show that the amount of protein synthesized is regulated at the level of translation of BCKD-kinase mRNA and that an upstream open reading frame in the 5'-untranslated region of this transcript controls its translation. The location and putative 19-residue peptide are conserved in the mouse, rat, chimpanzee, and human genes. Likewise, gene structure of mouse, chimpanzee, and human BCKD-kinase is conserved, whereas the rat gene has lost intron 9.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Molecular structure of a 9-MDa icosahedral pyruvate dehydrogenase subcomplex containing the E2 and E3 enzymes using cryoelectron microscopy.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes are among the largest multifunctional catalytic machines in cells, catalyzing the production of acetyl CoA from pyruvate. We have previously reported the molecular architecture of an 11-MDa subcomplex comprising the 60-mer icosahedral dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) decorated with 60 copies of the heterotetrameric (alpha(2)beta(2)) 153-kDa pyruvate decarboxylase (E1) from Bacillus stearothermophilus (Milne, J. L. S., Shi, D., Rosenthal, P. B., Sunshine, J. S., Domingo, G. J., Wu, X., Brooks, B. R., Perham, R. N., Henderson, R., and Subramaniam, S. (2002) EMBO J. 21, 5587-5598). An annular gap of approximately 90 A separates the acetyltransferase catalytic domains of the E2 from an outer shell formed of E1 tetramers. Using cryoelectron microscopy, we present here a three-dimensional reconstruction of the E2 core decorated with 60 copies of the homodimeric 100-kDa dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). The E2E3 complex has a similar annular gap of approximately 75 A between the inner icosahedral assembly of acetyltransferase domains and the outer shell of E3 homodimers. Automated fitting of the E3 coordinates into the map suggests excellent correspondence between the density of the outer shell map and the positions of the two best fitting orientations of E3. As in the case of E1 in the E1E2 complex, the central 2-fold axis of the E3 homodimer is roughly oriented along the periphery of the shell, making the active sites of the enzyme accessible from the annular gap between the E2 core and the outer shell. The similarities in architecture of the E1E2 and E2E3 complexes indicate fundamental similarities in the mechanism of active site coupling involved in the two key stages requiring motion of the swinging lipoyl domain across the annular gap, namely the synthesis of acetyl CoA and regeneration of the dithiolane ring of the lipoyl domain.

Binding Sites↗

A thiamin-bound, pre-decarboxylation reaction intermediate analogue in the pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit induces large scale disorder-to-order transformations in the enzyme and reveals novel structural features in the covalently bound adduct.

The crystal structure of the E1 component from the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHc) has been determined with phosphonolactylthiamin diphosphate (PLThDP) in its active site. PLThDP serves as a structural and electrostatic analogue of the natural intermediate alpha-lactylthiamin diphosphate (LThDP), in which the carboxylate from the natural substrate pyruvate is replaced by a phosphonate group. This represents the first example of an experimentally determined, three-dimensional structure of a thiamin diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzyme containing a covalently bound, pre-decarboxylation reaction intermediate analogue and should serve as a model for the corresponding intermediates in other ThDP-dependent decarboxylases. Regarding the PDHc-specific reaction, the presence of PLThDP induces large scale conformational changes in the enzyme. In conjunction with the E1-PLThDP and E1-ThDP structures, analysis of a H407A E1-PLThDP variant structure shows that an interaction between His-407 and PLThDP is essential for stabilization of two loop regions in the active site that are otherwise disordered in the absence of intermediate analogue. This ordering completes formation of the active site and creates a new ordered surface likely involved in interactions with the lipoyl domains of E2s within the PDHc complex. The tetrahedral intermediate analogue is tightly held in the active site through direct hydrogen bonds to residues His-407, Tyr-599, and His-640 and reveals a new, enzyme-induced, strain-related feature that appears to aid in the decarboxylation process. This feature is almost certainly present in all ThDP-dependent decarboxylases; thus its inclusion in our understanding of general thiamin catalysis is important.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Modulation of GalT1 and SialT1 sub-Golgi localization by SialT2 expression reveals an organellar level of glycolipid synthesis control.

Ganglioside glycosyltransferases organize as multienzyme complexes that localize in different sub-Golgi compartments. Here we studied whether in CHO-K1 cells lacking CMP-NeuAc: GM3 sialyltransferase (SialT2), the sub-Golgi localization of UDP-Gal:glucosylceramide beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase (GalT1) and CMP-NeuAc:lactosylceramide sialyltransferase (SialT1) complex is affected when SialT2, another member of this complex, is coexpressed. GalT1 and SialT1 sub-Golgi localization was determined by studying the effect of brefeldin A (BFA) and monensin on the synthesis of glycolipids and on the sub-Golgi localization of GalT1(1-52)-CFP (cyan fluorescent protein) and SialT1(1-54)-YFP (yellow fluorescent protein) chimeras by single cell fluorescence microscopy and by isopycnic subfractionation. We found that BFA, and also monensin, impair the synthesis of glycolipids beyond GM3 ganglioside in wild type (WT) cells but beyond GlcCer in SialT2(+) cells. Although BFA redistributed GalT1-CFP and SialT1-YFP to the endoplasmic reticulum in WT cells, a fraction of these chimeras remained associated with a distal Golgi compartment, enriched in trans Golgi network, and recycling endosome markers in SialT2(+) cells. In BFA-treated cells, the percentage of GalT1-CFP and SialT1-YFP associated with Golgi-like membrane fractions separated by isopycnic subfractionation was higher in SialT2(+) cells than in WT cells. These effects were reverted by knocking down the expression of SialT2 with specific siRNA. Results indicate that sub-Golgi localization of glycosyltransferase complexes may change according to the relative levels of the expression of participating enzymes and reveal a capacity of the organelle to adapt the topology of the glycolipid synthesis machinery to functional states of the cell.

Animals↗

Antimitochondrial and antinuclear antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis: an update in relation to their biochemical characterization and clinical significance.

Antimitochondrial antibodies are found in 85 to 95% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Nine different patterns have been identified but only four are associated with primary biliary cirrhosis. Anti-M2 antibodies are specific for the disease. The M2 antigen was found to be composed of five antigen determinants and related to the E2 component of three multienzyme complexes located within mitochondria. Anti-M4 and M8 antibodies appear invariably associated with anti-M2 and are markers for the "overlap syndrome" between primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis as well as for poor prognosis. Anti-M9 antibodies are preferentially associated with early and/or asymptomatic disease. Antinuclear antibodies are found in 24 to 58% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Six various patterns have been reported. Antibodies directed to the 200 kD polypeptide of the nuclear pore and giving a perinuclear fluorescence are specific for primary biliary cirrhosis. Patients with such antibodies exhibit a less symptomatic disease and lower titers of anti-M2 than those without.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Rapid diffusion of green fluorescent protein in the mitochondrial matrix.

It is thought that the high protein density in the mitochondrial matrix results in severely restricted solute diffusion and metabolite channeling from one enzyme to another without free aqueous-phase diffusion. To test this hypothesis, we measured the diffusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressed in the mitochondrial matrix of fibroblast, liver, skeletal muscle, and epithelial cell lines. Spot photobleaching of GFP with a 100x objective (0.8-micron spot diam) gave half-times for fluorescence recovery of 15-19 ms with >90% of the GFP mobile. As predicted for aqueous-phase diffusion in a confined compartment, fluorescence recovery was slowed or abolished by increased laser spot size or bleach time, and by paraformaldehyde fixation. Quantitative analysis of bleach data using a mathematical model of matrix diffusion gave GFP diffusion coefficients of 2-3 x 10(-7) cm2/s, only three to fourfold less than that for GFP diffusion in water. In contrast, little recovery was found for bleaching of GFP in fusion with subunits of the fatty acid beta-oxidation multienzyme complex that are normally present in the matrix. Measurement of the rotation of unconjugated GFP by time-resolved anisotropy gave a rotational correlation time of 23.3 +/- 1 ns, similar to that of 20 ns for GFP rotation in water. A rapid rotational correlation time of 325 ps was also found for a small fluorescent probe (BCECF, approximately 0.5 kD) in the matrix of isolated liver mitochondria. The rapid and unrestricted diffusion of solutes in the mitochondrial matrix suggests that metabolite channeling may not be required to overcome diffusive barriers. We propose that the clustering of matrix enzymes in membrane-associated complexes might serve to establish a relatively uncrowded aqueous space in which solutes can freely diffuse.

Animals↗

Coordinate regulation of the human TAP1 and LMP2 genes from a shared bidirectional promoter.

Recently, four genes (TAP1, TAP2, LMP2, LMP7) involved or potentially involved in the processing and transport of major histocompatibility complex class I-associated antigen to the endoplasmic reticulum have been identified. We now report the initial characterization of the bidirectional promoter for the human transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) and low molecular mass polypeptide 2 (LMP2) genes. These genes are divergently transcribed from a central promoter region of only 593 bp. Functional analysis using a bidirectional reporter system demonstrates the minimal 593-bp promoter is sufficient for concurrent expression in both directions. There is no TATA box homology at either end but there is a prevalence of GC boxes. Transcription is initiated at multiple sites for each gene without any of the TAP1 transcripts overlapping with the LMP2 transcripts. The region proximal to the TAP1 gene is required for maximal basal level expression of not only TAP1 but also LMP2. Furthermore, this region is necessary for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) induction of both genes. Site-specific mutations of an NF-kappa B element in the TAP1 proximal region blocked induction by TNF-alpha in both the TAP1 and LMP2 directions. An adjacent GC box was required for basal expression of both genes as well as augmenting the TNF-alpha induction of the distal LMP2 gene. In vivo genomic foot-printing of this region revealed strong protein/DNA interactions at the NF-kappa B and GC box consensus sequences. In vitro binding studies confirmed the capacity of the NF-kappa B site to bind p50/p65 and p52/p65 heterodimers and of the GC box to bind Sp1. Thus, the promoter elements proximal to the TAP1 gene play a significant role in regulating basal and induced expression of both TAP1 and LMP2. The findings presented in this report clearly link LMP2 expression with TAP1 expression and provide additional suggestive evidence linking LMP2 to class I antigen presentation.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Lack of correlation between length variation in the DNA polymerase gamma gene CAG repeat and lactic acidosis or neuropathy during antiretroviral treatment.

Antiretroviral therapy, although successful in reducing HIV load and accordingly decreasing the incidence of HIV infection-related symptoms, has its drawbacks in the form of severe side effects. Recognized drug-related side effects are, for example, nausea, fatigue, lactic acidosis, neuropathy, lipodystrophy, and myopathy. Because not all patients experience these side effects, genetic factors could be involved. It is believed that the main toxicity of nucleoside analog drugs is due to a decrease in mitochondrial function, possibly by inhibition of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. mtDNA is replicated by a multienzyme complex, the main component of which is the nuclear-encoded DNA polymerase gamma. Presently, the only known variation in the DNA polymerase gamma gene is variation in the number of CAG repeats in the second exon. To investigate whether CAG repeat expansion or mutations in the DNA polymerase gamma (POLG) gene could predispose to peripheral neuropathy or lactic acidosis, we have sequenced part of the second exon of the DNA polymerase gamma gene, containing the CAG repeat, of 59 drug-treated HIV-infected patients, 11 of whom experienced drug-induced neuropathy, and 3 of whom died from lactic acidosis. No correlation was found between numbers of CAG repeats and any of the symptoms. The coding regions of the POLG gene from the three lactic acidosis patients were then completely sequenced, but no mutations were found. In addition, no variation was detected in exons 3, 8, and 19 of seven neuropathy patients and three control subjects without symptoms. These exons were the only sites of amino acid changes between human and chimpanzee POLG genes, and were chosen as targets of tolerated variation.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

Molecular interplay of murein synthases and murein hydrolases in Escherichia coli.

Affinity chromatography using different lytic transglycosylases as a specific ligand revealed an interaction of both murein hydrolases and murein synthases. This interaction is taken as evidence for the assemblage into a multienzyme complex that could function as a murein replicase precisely copying the given three-dimensional structure of the murein sacculus. The sacculus of the mother cell would function as a template, which is identically replicated by copying the lengths of the existing glycan strands and the pattern of crosslinkages. A hypothetical enzyme complex specifically involved in cell division and a complex specifically involved in cell elongation are presented. It is postulated that PBPs 1a and/or 1b are present in both complexes, whereas the presence of PBP2 or PBP3 defines the specificity of the murein-synthesizing machinery as being involved in either cell elongation or septation. Moreover, the proposed "holoenzyme" suprastructure could explain why the specific inhibition of PBPs 1a/1b results in bacteriolysis and why inhibition of PBP2 and PBP3 causes the well-known morphological alterations, spherical growth, and filamentation, respectively.

Escherichia coli↗

ProPred1: prediction of promiscuous MHC Class-I binding sites.

SUMMARY: ProPred1 is an on-line web tool for the prediction of peptide binding to MHC class-I alleles. This is a matrix-based method that allows the prediction of MHC binding sites in an antigenic sequence for 47 MHC class-I alleles. The server represents MHC binding regions within an antigenic sequence in user-friendly formats. These formats assist user in the identification of promiscuous MHC binders in an antigen sequence that can bind to large number of alleles. ProPred1 also allows the prediction of the standard proteasome and immunoproteasome cleavage sites in an antigenic sequence. This server allows identification of MHC binders, who have the cleavage site at the C terminus. The simultaneous prediction of MHC binders and proteasome cleavage sites in an antigenic sequence leads to the identification of potential T-cell epitopes. AVAILABILITY: Server is available at http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/propred1/. Mirror site of this server is available at http://bioinformatics.uams.edu/mirror/propred1/ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Matrices and document on server are available at http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/propred1/page2.html

Antigen Presentation↗

TbMP81 is required for RNA editing in Trypanosoma brucei.

Most mitochondrial mRNAs are edited in Trypano soma brucei by a series of steps that are catalyzed by a multienzyme complex that is in its initial stages of characterization. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated repression of the expression of TbMP81, a zinc finger protein component of the complex, inhibited growth of bloodstream and insect forms, and blocked in vivo RNA editing. This repression preferentially inhibited insertion editing compared with deletion editing in vitro. It resulted in reduced specific endoribonucleolytic cleavage and a greater reduction of U addition and associated RNA ligation activities than U removal and associated RNA ligation activities. The repressed cells retained 20S editing complexes with several demonstrable proteins and adenylatable TbMP52 RNA ligase, but adenlyatable TbMP48 was not detected. Elimination of TbMP48 by RNAi repression did not inhibit cell growth or in vivo editing in either bloodstream or procyclic forms. These results indicate that TbMP81 is required for RNA editing and suggest that the editing complex is functionally partitioned.

Animals↗

Functional analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of naturally occurring amino acid substitutions in human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is a common component of mammalian multienzyme complexes that decarboxylate alpha-ketoacids and catabolize glycine. The common function is to reoxidize a reduced lipoate component of each complex, thereby preparing that lipoate for another round of catalysis. Regions within dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase involved in association with other proteins of the complexes are poorly defined, and despite high amino acid sequence conservation through evolution, it is unknown if dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenases are functionally equivalent across species. To address this issue, we asked whether the human enzyme could restore function to the alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes in a yeast strain deficient in endogenous dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. This dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase null mutant will not grow on non-fermentable carbon sources. The human enzyme expressed from a CEN plasmid complemented the growth phenotype and restored full activity to the pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes. Human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenases with selected amino acid substitutions were then tested in the null strain for their ability to restore function. Substitutions tested represented naturally occurring candidate mutations identified in an individual with inactive dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. A K37E change had full function while a P453L change resulted in reduced dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase abundance in the mitochondria and no detectable catalytic activity.

Amino Acids↗

Cloning of the cDNA and gene encoding mouse lysosomal sialidase and correction of sialidase deficiency in human sialidosis and mouse SM/J fibroblasts.

Lysosomal sialidase occurs in a multienzyme complex that also contains beta-galactosidase and cathepsin A. We previously cloned the human lysosomal sialidase cDNA and characterized mutations in human sialidosis patients. Here, we report the cloning and expression of the mouse lysosomal sialidase cDNA and gene. The 1.77 kb cDNA encodes an open reading frame of 408 amino acids which shows high homology to the human lysosomal sialidase (80%), the rat cytosolic sialidase (65%) and viral and bacterial sialidases (50-55%). The sialidase gene is approximately 4 kb long and contains six exons. The five introns range in size from 96 to 1200 bp. Northern blot analysis revealed high expression of multiple sialidase transcripts in kidney and epididymis, moderate levels in brain and spinal cord, and low levels in adrenal, heart, liver, lung and spleen. Transient expression of the cDNA clone in sialidase-deficient SM/J mouse fibroblasts and human sialidosis fibroblasts restored normal levels of sialidase activities in both cell types. Immunocytochemically expressed sialidase co-localized with a lysosomal marker, LAMP2, confirming its lysosomal nature. Since sialidase activity requires its association with beta-galactosidase and cathepsin A, the expression of mouse sialidase within human sialidosis cells underlines the structural similarity between mouse and human enzymes and suggests that the mechanism for complex formation and function is highly conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mechanism of stimulation by a specific protein factor of de novo DNA synthesis by mouse DNA replicase with fd phage single stranded circular DNA.

Mouse DNA replicase is a functional multienzyme complex consisting of DNA polymerase and DNA primase. The DNA and initiator RNA syntheses by DNA replicase with single stranded DNA as template are stimulated by a stimulating factor (T. Yagura, T. Kozu and T. Seno, 1982, J. Biochem. (Tokyo).91, 607-618). The action mechanism of the stimulating factor on this novel DNA synthesis with fd phage single stranded circular DNA as template was studied. The stimulating factor directly stimulated initiator RNA synthesis but did not change the length of either initiator RNA (8 to 10 nucleotides long) or the product DNA (300 to 1,000 nucleotides long). Kinetic studies and analysis of the products by neutral agarose gel electrophoresis show that the stimulating factor increased the affinity of DNA replicase for template DNA without changing the apparent Km values for deoxy- and ribonucleotide substrates. Thus, in combination with a sufficient amount of the stimulating factor, DNA replicase quantitatively converted the template DNA to the position of double-stranded circular replicative form II DNA, as shown by agarose gel electrophoresis.

Animals↗

Induction of enzymes involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation in Pseudomonas fragi B-0771 cells grown in media supplemented with fatty acid.

Induction of the enzymes involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation in Pseudomonas fragi B-0771 cells grown in a medium containing straight chain saturated fatty acids was studied. The acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACDH) activity was induced during the exponential phase in cells grown in palmitic acid-supplemented medium, reached a maximum at the early stationary phase, and then gradually decreased thereafter. Changes in the overall activities of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, both existing on the multienzyme complex (HDT) involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, were similar to that in ACDH activity. Straight chain saturated fatty acids having more than 6 carbon atoms could induce both the ACDH and HDT activities, and C13-C15 fatty acids caused the greatest induction of both activities. Changes in the overall activities of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase correlated with that in the amount of the alpha-subunit of HDT during the entire culture period in the medium containing palmitic acid. Surprisingly, the stoichiometry of the alpha- and beta-subunit proteins of HDT was not maintained into the stationary phase culture, though the genes encoding the alpha- and beta-subunits are tandemly coded in bacterial genomic DNA.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase↗

Symbiotic induction of pyruvate dehydrogenase genes from Sinorhizobium meliloti.

Genes coding for components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) multienzyme complex (PDHc) from Sinorhizobium meliloti, the alfalfa symbiont, have been isolated on the basis of their high expression in symbiotic bacteria. The Elp component, PDH, is encoded by two genes, pdhAalpha (1,047 bp) and pdhAbeta (1,383 bp), a situation encountered in the alpha-proteobacteria Rickettsia prowazekii and Zymomonas mobilis as well as in some gram-positive bacteria and in mitochondria. pdhAalpha and pdhAbeta precede pdhB (1,344 bp), which encodes the E2p component, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, of the PDHc. No gene encoding the E3 component, lipoamide dehydrogenase, was found in the immediate vicinity of pdhA and pdhB genes. pdhAalpha, pdhAbeta and pdhB likely constitute an operon. Here, we provide evidence that pdhA expression is induced in the symbiotic stage, compared with free-living conditions. We demonstrate that symbiotic expression of pdhA genes does not depend on the fix LJ regulatory cascade that regulates nitrogen fixation and respiration gene expression in symbiotic S. meliloti cells. Induction of pdhA expression could be obtained under free-living conditions upon the addition of pyruvate to the culture medium. Induction by pyruvate and symbiotic activation of pdh gene expression take place at the same promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗